Skinflint

Skinflint might be from Botswana but the dynamic trio offers traditional metal somewhere between heavy blues rock, heavy metal and a shot of doom metal on its self-titled effort. Imagine a slightly faster version of Black Sabbath with less melodic and more shouted vocals and you have a pretty good idea what this record sounds like. The album stays faithful to this guiding line and sounds coherent from start to finish as it avoids offerings experiments or fillers. The fact that a few songs might sound too alike shouldn't be ignored but the band generally avoids the trap of repetition by offering just below forty-five minutes of great music.

One thing I really appreciate about this album is the band's great sense for engaging rhythms. The almost danceable and cool rhythms in ''Birds and Milk, Bloody Milk'' explain why this song was used to promote the record with a cool music video. ''Thorns of Fire'' has so much power that it will make your head nod and your feet move very easily. The great diversified closer ''Tokoloshe'' ends in a very rhythmic way as especially the last minute is quite gripping and concludes a dynamic record on a high note.

From time to time, the band repeats its great rhythmic patterns a little bit too much. It's understandable that the group wants to evoke a hypnotizing atmosphere but the opening two minutes of ''The Prophecy of Nongqawuse'' are rather pointless and sound as if the band didn't know how to actually start the song. Thankfully, such incidents remain exceptional on this album.

If you like hard rock music with great rhythms recalling legendary bands like Black Sabbath in the seventies or early eighties, you will certainly enjoy Skinflint's self-titled record. Put your headphones on, travel back in time and keep your feet, hands and head moving to enjoy properly. This is also an outstanding release to drive to as I have listened to it at least a dozen times while driving all across Newfoundland after I had found this gem in an independent record store in Saint John's. Finding heavy metal music from Botswana in Newfoundland is also a wonderful example for the music's global impact. Heavy metal has never been as strong as it is today and this is something I am truly grateful for.

For over a decade now, Skinflint of Gaborone, Botswana has consistently delivered their signature take on traditional metal. Their self-titled sixth full-length features much of the same influences from Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy, among other classics, but presents them in a more grounded fashion than their past efforts. Unfortunately, the lessened atmosphere results in a rather spotty execution.

While the production is rawer than their other albums, the actual playing is solid. The guitar tone offers plenty of Maiden-style melody work and bluesy leads, the bass accompanies it with appropriate clanking, and the drums are tight with plenty of intricate beats on display. The pseudo-spoken vocal approach offers a storytelling feel that is interesting albeit an acquired taste.

Unfortunately, this tightness often works against them too. The rhythms get too intricate at times, which makes tempos drag and songs seem like they’re longer than they really are. Skinflint is a more mid-tempo band by design, but the method just isn’t sustainable without the proper atmosphere to build it up or engaging grooves to maintain the listener’s interest. The rather monotonous vocals don’t exactly liven things up much either.

It doesn’t help that the songs themselves aren’t the best written either. Tracks like “The Prophecy of Nonggawuse” and “The Hyena Sorcerer” dig into ominous Mercyful Fate ground, while others like “Chiruwi” and “Tuyewera” feel like homages to Thin Lizzy, but the stiff performances make them all sound flat despite the variety. Things do get better toward the end with “Mathoa” boasting a bluesy swing, but there’s nothing that qualifies for staple status.

Skinflint’s sixth album isn’t bad, but I find myself wishing I liked it more than I really do. The band has plenty of talent and there are good ingredients at the core, but a combination of stiff performances and flat songwriting makes for a dull whole. It’s a shame that the self-titled album doesn’t represent the band at the best. Classic metal fans should really explore 2014’s Nyemba to see Skinflint’s strongest work.

Highlights:
“The Prophecy of Nonggawuse”
“Tuyewera”
“Mathoa”

Originally published at http://indymetalvault.com